Photo : Liew (centre), flanked by Liang (on her left) and Nordin, with DBKK and company officials. Ends
KOTA KINABALU: After the COVID-19 pandemic is over, Sabah will go
full steam in an effort to rejuvenate the flagging tourism industry.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said Sunday, the hard-hit industry has almost come to a standstill because the pandemic has derailed the Government’s plans to continue promoting Sabah to overseas markets through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
“Last year, I led a fruitful delegation to Xi’an City in China and several other countries. This year, we are planning to further popularise Sabah in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. However,
our effort has been thwarted by the virus outbreak but we have not given up hope.
“Together with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and with the support of Consul-General of China in Kota Kinabalu (Mr Liang Caide), we have also set
our sights on other Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing.
“I am confident that Sabah will once again be able to draw tourists from China like a magnet after the pandemic goes away,” she told reporters after witnessing the presentation of medical supplies by
Fujian Fusun Investment Co. Ltd (China) and Skyrich Development Sdn Bhd representatives to City Mayor Datuk Nordin Hj Siman at the premises of DBKK.
The items comprised 50,000 pieces of face masks, 720 pairs of goggles, 480 pieces of disposable medical protective clothing and 400 pieces of face shield.
Present were Liang, DBKK Director-General Noorliza Awang Alip and
senior official Lifred Wong, and Fusun Investment Deputy General Manager Li Wanghui.
Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said her Ministry through the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) will work together with tour operators, airlines, hotels and other stakeholders to revive the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, she expressed her appreciation to the companies and other corporate bodies for their generous donations in complementing the Government’s procurement of medical supplies for frontliners in the essential services, since the start of the Movement Control Order
(MCO) on March 18. “It is gratifying to note that the Government and the private sector are united in times of crisis like COVID-19.”
Nordin, who also spoke, expressed his gratitude to the benefactors for coming forward to offer assistance.
“I am impressed with their spirit of voluntarism. Their contribution
is of great help as DBKK needs 1,000 face masks a day for its frontliners, including enforcement personnel and cleaners,” he said. Ends
